Decandling and cutback are great techniques for redirecting growth on black pines. Here are some examples. Tree #1 After eleven years, the trunk of the tree below has reached the desired size. Any further significant growth and the curves would begin to disappear. The goal for this stage of development is to reduce investment in […]
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Decandling shohin black pine
The steps are simple. 1) Remove spring shoots. Shohin black pine – 21 years old After removing spring shoots 2) Remove extra needles. After removing extra needles 3) Perform light cutback as needed. The first branch on the right is long After shortening the first branch on the right That’s it. In all I removed 14 […]
Amazing pines at Bonsai Mirai
I’ve been thinking about how to introduce Ryan Neil’s garden and school, Bonsai Mirai, and have decided to let the trees speak for themselves. Enjoy 🙂 Ponderosa pine Ryan Neil telling the story of the first tree he collected Limber pine Mountain hemlock Douglass fir Ponderosa pine Douglas fir Ponderosa pine Ponderosa pine Ponderosa pine Limber […]
Repotting black pine in nursery soil
Sometimes during repotting, I feel like I’ve passed a point of no return. The feeling struck when I was working on a black pine this past winter. After combing out the roots – there’s no going back The pine – see Friday’s “Cleaning up a black pine” for a look at the tree today – is […]
Cleaning up a black pine
I’m only now getting to some of the work I’d lined up for last fall. For some varieties like junipers, this poses no particular challenge. For pines, basic seasonal tasks like cutback and needle pulling get tricky once springs candles elongate as candles can break easily. I don’t mind working on pines that are only […]